Offenses

There are many different types of offenses to choose from in the game of basketball. The various types of offenses are all designed to use spacing, player movement and teamwork to open up or isolate players for good shots against the opposing defense. Your offense should be simple and based on using your team’s fundamental skills to execute at the highest level possible. When deciding on what type of team offense you are going to run you must understand what skill level your team is at and choose an offense that is appropriate for your players. Regardless of the offense you choose to run with your team, there are 4 main areas of execution that you must teach, emphasize and practice over and over for any offensive system to be successful.

* Floor Spacing – You should always be far enough away (12 to 14 ft) from your teammates to be in a position on the floor where 1 defender cannot guard 2 offensive players.

* Ball Movement – Move the ball with sharp, accurate passing. Always pass to the open man. You cannot hold the ball on offense. It allows the defense to get set and not have to move quickly.

* Player Movement – Right and constant movement within the offense keeps the defense moving and guessing at what you are trying to accomplish.

* Shot Selection – Your system must create and your players must take open and high percentage shots or your offense will not be successful.

Different types of Offense

Set Offense – A set play is a pre-planned sequence of cuts, screens and player movements designed to get open shots against the defense.

Motion Offense – Motion offenses use constant player movement with a purpose to exploit their quickness on offense or to neutralize a size advantage of the defense.

Zone Offense – An offensive system specifically designed to take advantage of zone defense principles and score against all of the various zone defenses.

Read and React Offense – Very similar to a motion offense but differs in that the ball handler makes their action decision and the rest of the team has predefined reactions to that action.

Spread Offense – A spread or “stall” offense is usually run at the end of a half or at the end of the game to protect a lead and to run out the clock or force the defense to foul.

Transition Offense – Also to referred to as “fast break” offense. It is designed to get the ball down the court as quickly as possible after a defensive rebound or a quick inbound after the opponent’s made basket.